DEP Releases 2023 Annual Report On Chesapeake Bay Watershed Celebrating Accomplishments Of Counties, Communities, State And Local Leaders

The Department of Environmental Protection released its 2023 Healthy Waters Healthy Communities Annual Report celebrating the nutrient pollution reduction accomplishments in the Pennsylvania portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, according to DEP’s Healthy Waters Partnership, Progress newsletter.

The report highlights the work of 34 county teams working with over 1,200 individuals and organizations to implement local Countywide Action Plans (CAPs) to accelerate clean water project implementation. 

Specific examples of implemented projects in the agricultural sector, natural sector, and urban sector are featured in this report. 

The annual report also shares the collaborative efforts to identify solutions to clean water project implementation challenges and to accelerate rapid stream delisting (indicating healthy biological activity once delisted) across multiple counties.

Some Highlights

DEP said in 2023, Pennsylvania reduced 3.62 million pounds of nitrogen, 80,000 pounds of phosphorus, and 102 million pounds of sediment from going into local streams and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay.

In 2023, Pennsylvania partners at every level and across each sector committed to spending the over $700 million in new funding received in 2022. 

The newly created Clean Streams Fund invigorated local efforts, providing $220 million to several state agencies and programs. 

Collective efforts and partnerships helped agencies and programs invest in people and projects. 

These efforts resulted in increased progress towards healthier streams and rivers, and furthered progress toward preserving topsoil and farm viability, reducing flooding in fields and neighborhoods, reclaiming abandoned mine drainage, and reaching urban tree planting goals.

The newly established Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program within the State Conservation Commission began helping farmers implement water quality BMPs. The program completed 60 projects, totaling $1,860,005 and opened 504 additional ACAP project contracts between farmers and districts, totaling $52,691,499.

Every completed or contracted ACAP project required the farmer to have an Agricultural Erosion & Sedimentation, conservation, manure management or nutrient management plan.

Installed and Planned Best Management Practices--  2,477 feet of waterways; 12,657 feet of livestock pipelines; 13 acres of riparian forest buffers; 2,620 feet of streambank protections; 10,050 feet of farmable diversions; 8,407 feet of trails and walkways; 49 waste storage facilities; 7,228 acres of cover crops; 1,460 feet of access roads; 17,002 feet of fencing; and 57,837 square feet of heavy use areas.

Conservation District partners provided 1,462 applicants with assistance, reaching a record total of 17,333 people with ACAP information or technical assistance.

Click Here to read the entire report.

DEP Healthy Waters Progress Newsletter

DEP’s Healthy Waters Partnership, Progress newsletter also includes--

-- Upcoming Funding Opportunities

-- County Projects Update

How Clean Is Your Stream?

The draft 2024 report has an interactive report viewer that allows you to zoom in to your own address to see if the streams near you are impaired and why.

Click Here to check out your streams.  Click Here for a tutorial on using the viewer.

Visit DEP’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed webpage to learn more about cleaning up rivers and streams in Pennsylvania's portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates on Pennsylvania’s progress.

(Reprinted from DEP’s Healthy Waters Partnership, Progress newsletter.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy.)

Resource Link:

-- New EPA Evaluation Shows Pennsylvania Made New Funding Commitments To Clean Up Chesapeake Bay Watershed, But Did Not Meet 2023 Cleanup Targets  [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week:

-- National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, US Fish & Wildlife Announce $8.9 Million To Restore, Conserve Habitats In Chesapeake Bay Watershed  [PaEN] 

-- Conservation Innovation Fund, Kennett Twp., Chester County Receive Ground-Breaking Stormwater Permit Relying On Nature-Based Solutions  [PaEN]

-- USDA NRCS-PA: Cropland Farmers May Be Contacted During Conservation Effects Assessment Survey

-- Eastern PA Consulting & Industrial Forester Conference Set For Sept. 26 At Dauphin County Conservation District  [PaEN] 

-- EPA Names Khesha Reed As Deputy Director For Chesapeake Bay Program Office  [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- Williamsport Sun: Loyalsock Creek Men’s Club Does Work On Little Bear Creek

[Posted: August 28, 2024]  PA Environment Digest